Box



S. BATDORF Sept. 21, 1937.

BOX

Filed May 15, 1935 Patented Sept. 21, 1937 PATENT QFFEE BOX SeymourBatdorf, Lancaster, Pa.,' assignor to Liberty Can and Sign Company,Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 15, 1935,Serial No. 21,653 10 Claims. (01320-41) This invention relates to metalboxes of the resilient sheet metal sliding cover type such as now inextensive use for medicinal tablets and other small articles. In suchboxes it is now 5 usual-to provide stop means for limiting the relativesliding movement between the cover and body in one or both directions.

Most such stop means are simply somewhat rounded lugs struck up from, ordown into, the lo'body or sliding top at some distance, relativelyspeaking, inward from the side of the body or top and in operationtheoretically abut against therounded edge of the end of the top of thebody', or against a flange of the top, in a line lying inward of theside of the box for an appreciable distance as stated. In actualpractice it'is-found that because of their rounded or wedge form"andtheir location when but very slight excess pressure is exerted the metalof the top 20 or body'or both, because of its resilient yieldingcharacter, springs and yields with the result such stopsride over andpast'the abutment or,

in other words, the stops fail to function in practice. g 25:

are toprovide a resilient sheet metal box of the above type wherein thebody is formed with a top edge curl and the top is formed with downingto hold the lowerportions of said flanges drawn up tightly against theopposing lower laterally' outer face portions of said curl and saidflanges 'servingto hold the laterally outer portions of said top intight sliding contact with the upper face'portion of said curl and to soform said top and curl'in the plane of said curl in a "directionparallelto the adjacent side or the body and substantially perpendicularto thegeneral pane of the top with interengaging stop means, wherebysaid stopmeans will at all times 5 be held. in operative relationship bythe engagementzo f the flange with the curl and cannot be forced, pasteach other without the use of such force as to permanently stretch ordeform and so destroy the box; to provide such a box with positive stopmeans While avoiding any unprotectedsharp corners or edges that would beapt to scratch orrnar'the lithographed or other fin- 'I'hejprirnaryobjects of the. present invention theuse of material and simplify thestamping and assembly operations.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my invention, according to thepreferred embodiment, 5

closed;

Figure 2, a top plan view of the body thereof; Figure 3, a sideelevation of the box, open; Figure 4, a cross-section on line l l ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the cover being' 'shownin its initial stage of application to the body;

Figfire'5, a view similar to Fig. l, the cover being in; itsintermediate stage of application to the body Figure 6, a view similarto Fig. 4, the cover being in its final stage of application to thebody;'

Figure 7, a sectional view on the line l'l of Fig.1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 8, a 'view, similar to Fig. 7, of a modified form; and

Figures 9 and 10 respectively side elevation and fragmentary top planviews of a further modification'. e i

In all of'the views the thickness of the sheet metal employed has beengreatly exaggerated, andi-n general the parts have been enlarged andmade somewhat out of proportion in order to clearly show the inventionon a sufiiciently large scale and without requiring a multiplicity ofsheets of drawings.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, A designates the body of thebox; B, the sliding top; D, lugs or ribs struck or pressed out laterallyfrom the sides of the body to overlie the edges of an opening in adisplay card if desired; Efthe' usual snap catch lug or latch stampeddown or inward'in the top B to engage and ride up over the end edge curlas the top B is shoved toward closed position and, as soon as the top Breaches closed position, snapping down by the resiliency of the top Band fitting inside of, and engaging the adjacent end face of, the body Ato hold the top 33 closed against accidental or unintentionaldisplacement; and F, a hook type or form end stop formed on the end oftop 13 adjacent catch E to engage the end of body 'A or the adjacentportion of the end edge curl thereof to prevent sliding movement of thetop B in the direction of closing beyond closed position.

. As illustrated in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive, in the present preferredform, the body A has its edge portion rolled or curled into a preferablycontinuous external bead or curl l of preferably substantially uniformdiameter in cross-section. Preferably midway of the length of each sideof the body said curl is abruptly struck up to form two abrupt lugs 3preferably substantially in transverse registry in a plane parallel tothe end of the body and each extending vertically upward and for a shortdistance lengthwise of the box in a vertical plane substantiallyparallel to, and laterally outside of, the vertical plane of thecorresponding side of the body A.

The sliding top or cover B will preferably be slightly arched in formwith an outwardly and downwardly inclined marginal panel 6 extendingcompletely around it and will preferably be springy or resilient as awhole preferably crosswise and as applied to the body A the top B willpreferably be under tension cross-wise and preferably also lengthwise,particularly when it is closed. The sides of the top B are formed withpreferably integral downwardly and inwardly curved flanges 2 to snuglyfit about and below, and slidably receive, the side portions of the curlI of the body A, which is of resilient construction, or preferably ofsuch material and construction as to be resilient as a whole. The top Bis formed with two longitudinal upwardly pressed grooves 4 so located asto respectively lie in the respective longitudinally extending verticalplanes of the respective stop lugs 3 in the respective planes of therespective side portions of the bead or curl I and thus being at theextreme side portions of the top B and lying substantially in the sameplanes as, or laterally outside of, the sides of the body A, the curvedends of each groove 4 constituting stop shoulders or faces 5 adapted toabut the opposed faces of the corresponding stop lugs 3 to limit themovement of the top B with respect to body A, and being prevented fromriding up over said stop lugs 3 by reason of the fact that the cammingor wedging action would be practically in a straight vertical line in avertical plane intersecting the groove 4, the lug 3 and the side portionof the curl I, approximately intersecting or being coincident with theaxis of said side portion of the curl I in each instance, so that ineach instance it would involve a straight pull or shove between theshoulders 5 and the lugs 3 respectively in opposition to the engagementof the lower portions of the flanges 2 with the lower outer faces of therespective side portions of the curl I, all such points of engagement ineach instance, or as to each side of the top B, taking placesubstantially in the same longitudinally extending vertical plane, sothat in order for one pair of shoulders 5 to be forced up over andbeyond the stop lugs 3 it would be necessary to intentionally anddeliberately use sufficient force to definitely stretch or tear andpermanently deform and destroy the box.

In assembling, the top B and bottom A constructed as above described areinitially associated with the flange 2 on one side of the top B hookedunder the corresponding side portion of the curl I of the body A andwith the flange 2 on the other side of the top B resting on the stop lug3 on the other side of the body A, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Next,pressure is applied to press, deform temporarily or temporarily springinward the latter side of the body A and at the same time move thelatter flange 2 down along the outer side of said stop lug 3, as shownin Fig. 5, and thereafter this side of the top B and body A are pressedor squeezed together until the outer portion of panel 6 on that side ofthe top B rests on the top of that side portion of curl I and thecorresponding flange 2 fits down around and under said portion of thecurl I, the resilient springy construction of the body A, or of top B,or of both top B and body A serving to hold the top B spread undertension, forcing the inner faces of the lower portions of the flanges 2into contact with the lower portions of the outer faces of therespective side portions of the curl I and at the same time through suchengagement holding the outer portions of the side panels 6 in engagementwith the upper faces of said side portions of the curl I.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3 the construction andoperation are the same as above described with relation to the preferredform, except that instead of the curl I being formed with upwardlystruck lugs I it is formed with a downwardly pressed section on eachside portion, said depressed section 3 terminating in stop shoulders 5'and functioning the same as the groove 4 and stop shoulders 5 of thepreferred form, and the top is formed with a downwardly or inwardlypressed stop lug 4' having movement lengthwise of said depressed portionor section 3' on each side and abutting'the stop shoulders 5' to limitthe reverse endwise movement of the top.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 the construction andoperation are the same as in the preferred form except that instead ofthe grooves 4 the metal of the top is cut out in the form of slots 4arespectively having the form and location of the grooves 4 of thepreferred form, and the end edges 50; of said slots 40!, constitute stopshoulders functioning the same as the stop shoulders 5 of the preferredform, though probably with somewhat greater efficiency in that they haveraw cutting edges that would tend to bite into the opposed end faces ofthe stop lugs 3 instead of having a tendency to slide thereon.

I claim:

1. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a rectangular bodyformed with an external top edge curl, a lug projecting from each sideportion of said curl extendinglongitudinallyand vertically in a verticalplane parallel to its adjacent side of said body with its major portiondisposed laterally outside of the vertical plane of said side of saidbody and with its laterally outer face in the same vertical plane as theextreme laterally outer face portion of its corresponding side portionof said curl, in combination with a rectangular sliding resilient sheetmetal cover arched both lengthwise and crosswise, side flanges integralwith said cover and curved downwardly and inwardly to snugly slidinglyengage about and under the outer and lower faces of the respective sideportions of said curl, said top being formed with upwardly indentedlongitudinally extending grooves respectively located in its respectiveextreme laterally outer portions and so disposed as to slidingly receivethe respective stop lugs, and abutment faces formed at the ends of eachsaid groove.

2. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a rectangular bodyformed with an external top edge curl, a lug projecting from each sideportion of said curl extending longitudinally and vertically in avertical plane parallel to its adjacent side of said body with its majorportion disposed laterally outside of the vertical plane of said side ofsaid body and with its laterally outer face in the same vertical planeas the extreme laterally outer face portion of its corresponding sideportion of said curl, in combination with a rectangular slidingresilient sheet metal cover arched crosswise, side flanges integral withsaid cover and curved downwardly and inwardly to 75- snugly slidinglyengage about and under the outer and lower faces of the respective sideportions of said curl, said top being formed in its extreme laterallyouter portions with longitudinally extending slots so located andrespectively of such width as to snugly slidingly receive said stop lugsrespectively, the end walls of said slots respectively constituting thinabrupt abutment shoulders.

3. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a rectangular bodyformed with an external top edge curl, the side portions of said curlbetween the ends of said body being depressed to form a clearancedepression on each side of said body, the end walls of said depressionsrespectively constituting abutment shoulders lying in the verticalplanes of the respective side portions of said curl in combination witha rectangular sliding resilient sheet metal cover arched crosswise, sideflanges integral with said coverand curved downwardly and inwardly tosnugly slidingly engage about and underthe outer and lower faces of therespective side portions of said curl, and stop lugs dependingrespectively from the extreme laterally outer portions of said cover invertical registry respectively with the respective depressed portions ofsaid respective side portions of the curl and adapted to have movementlengthwise thereof and to engage the respective abutment shouldersconstituting the end walls thereof.

4. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a body formed with anexternal top edge curl, portions of said curl carrying short abrupt stoplugs extending in a vertical plane intersecting the center of thecorresponding portion of said curl, in combination with a slidingresilient sheet metal cover, flanges integral with said cover and curveddownwardly and inwardly to snugly slidingly engage about and under theouter and lower faces of the respective corresponding portions of saidcurl, said cover being formed with upwardly indented longitudinallyextending grooves respectively located in its respective extreme outerportions and so disposed as to slidingly receive the respective stoplugs, and abutment faces formed at the ends of each said groove.

5. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a body formed with anexternal top edge curl, and short abrupt stop lugs respectivelyextending verticallyfrom the top faces of the respective side portionsof said curl between the ends of said body, in combination with asliding resilient sheet metal cover arched crosswise, side flangesintegral with said' cover and curved downwardly and inwardly to snuglyslidingly receive and engage about and under the outer faces of therespective side portions of said curl, said top being formed in itsextreme laterally outer portions with longitudinally extending slots solocated and respectively of such width as to snugly slidingly receivesaid stop lugs respectively, the end walls of said slots respectivelybeing adapted to engage said stop lugs to limit the endwise movement ofsaid cover relative to said body.

6. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a rectangular bodyformed with an external top edge curl, and abrupt stop lugs respectivelyextending vertically from the top faces of the respective side portionsof said curl between the ends of said body, in combination with arectangular sliding sheet metal cover, side flanges integral with saidcover and curved downwardly and inwardly to snugly slidingly engageabout and under the outer and lower faces of the respective sideportions of said curl, said cover being formed with longitudinallyextending sockets respectively located in its respective extremelaterally outer portions and so disposed as to slidingly receive therespective stop lugs, and abutment faces at the ends of said sockets.

'7. A metal slide cover type box comprising a body formed with anexternal top edge curl, and a stop lug extending vertically from the topof said curl, in combination with a sliding metal cover, flanges:integral with said cover and curved downwardly and inwardly to snuglyslidingly engage about and under the outer faces of the respectivecorresponding portions of said curl, said cover being formed in anextreme outer portion with a slot so located and of such width as tosnugly slidingly receive said stop lug, and abutment faces formed at theends of said slot to respectively abut the stop lug to limit themovement of said cover relative to said body.

. 8. A metal slide cover type box comprising a body formed with anexternal top edge curl, and an abrupt stop lug extending from the top ofsaid curl, in combination with a sliding metal cover, flanges integralwith said cover and curved downwardly and inwardly to snugly slidinglyengage about and under the outer faces of the respective correspondingportions of said curl, said cover being formed with a socket in anextreme outer portion and so disposed as to slidingly receive said stoplug, and abutment faces formed at the ends of said socket torespectively abut the stop lug to limit the movement of said coverrelative to said body.

9. A sheet metal slide cover type box comprising a body and a slidingsheet metal cover, one of said elements being resilient, and said bodybeing formed with an external top edge curl, in combination with sideflanges integral with said cover and curved downwardly and inwardly tosnugly slidingly engage about the outer faces of the respective sideportions of said curl and an extreme laterally outer portion of saidcover and one of said side portions of said curl each being provided inthe vertical plane of said curl portion with a pair of abrupt verticallyextending faces located above the longitudinal center of said curlportion, one pair of said faces being interposed between the abutmentfaces of the other pair.

' 10. A metal slide cover type box comprising a body formed with anexternal top edge bead, in combination with a sliding metal cover, sideflanges integral with said cover and curved downwardly and inwardly tosnugly slidingly engage about the outer faces of the respective sideportions of said bead, and an extreme laterally outer portion of saidcover and one of the side portions of said bead each being providedabove the longitudinal center, and in the vertical plane thereof,

of said bead with a pair of abrupt vertically extending abutment faces,one pair of said abutment faces being interposed between the abutmentfaces of the other pair.

SEYMOUR BATDORF.

